Closure check and retainer



y 22, 1952 H. M. FREDHOLM ,343

CLOSURE CHECK AND RETAINER Filed Dec. 22. 1950 2 SI-lEETS-Sl-IEET 1 15 J2 L 5a] 26 y 22, 1952 H. M. FREDHOLM 2,604,343

CLOSURE CHECK AND RETAINER Filed D90. 22, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I Fly" 5 1 '4' ii I 24 5e Tu- A 5 I 3 J JZ QU QM 46 v J8 J0 26 20 QMMQ:

r6 1725mm? Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE CHECK AND RETAINER Henry M. Fredholm, Midlothian, 111. Application December 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,315

This invention relates to a door check and retainer mechanism including a pair of cooperating elements adapted to be secured to a door and a frame therefor, and which elements function consecutively as a door check or cushion stop, and then as a door retainer upon final closing movement thereof.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 52,619, filed October 4, 1948, now abandoned.

It is appreciated that door check and retaining mechanisms of the general character referred to herein, have heretofore been constructed and proposed. However, in such prior constructions, which have comprised a keeper plate secured to either the door or the frame therefor and a bolt carried roller for cooperation therewith and carried by the other, either the plate or the bolt carried roller is yieldable and the other is rigidly supported, with respect thereto.

While such prior constructions no doubt, fulfilled their requirements and were satisfactory with massive or heavy constructions of the relatively movable parts where the yielding stress could be borne entirely by one of the two cooperating elements. It has been found, however, that in the lighter construction of such parts, as are employed today and particularly on trailer doors and frame constructions that new problems are presented. Hence, it has been discovered that two types or degrees of spring checking and retaining actions, occurring successively on bringing such doors to closed positions produces the best result and further serves to prolong the life and usefulness of the checking and retaining device and door parts as well.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a door check and retainer structure embodying cooperating elements adapted to be secured to a door and the frame therefor and wherein such elements are each yieldable when brought into cooperative rela-- tionship.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door check and retainer structure embodying a resilient keeper plate adapted to be secured to a door or the frame therefor and a cooperating spring projected bolt device adapted to be secured to the door frame or a door embodying such a bolt carried roller for cooperation with the keeper plate, and wherein the keeper plate is more yieldable than the spring means of the bolt so as to be first deflected thereby.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a door check and retainer structure com- 3 Claims. (Cl. 29275) prising a pair of cooperating devices adapted to be secured to the door and the frame therefor on opposed sides of the juncture between the frame and door, one of said devices including a spring arm normally spaced in part from its support and having a camming end portion adapted to be brought into operative relation after deflection thereof into engagement with its support, and the other device including a bolt carryin a roller engageable with said arm and then the camming portion thereof and having a relatively stronger spring action for first deflecting said arm into engagement with its support and then causing the relatively stronger bolt spring to yield as the roller rides over the same surface of the deflected arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively thin spring metal keeper plate embodying a yieldably supported arm having a cam portion in angular relation to said arm for cooperation with the support for said arm and a bolt carried roller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door check and retainer device including a spring projected bolt carrying roller supported by a door frame cooperating with a cam striker plate or keeper supported by a door, and wherein the roller is of cushion material. thereby enhancing the cushioning action of the device upon closing the door, reducing noise, increasing life of the parts etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a door check and retainer structure, a onepiece sheet metal casing member adapted to be secured to a door or a frame therefor, a sheet metal member slidably supported in opposed walls of the casing including a tubular bolt member having a bifurcated roller supporting head at one end of the bolt member and unitary therewith, a spring disposed within the casing in encircling relation to the bolt member and a rubber roller rotatably upported within the supporting head.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of line l-| on Fig. 2, showing a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevational View of a door and door frame showing the improved structure attached thereto, and with the parts in closed and retained position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but of a slight- 1y modified form and reduced scale, showing the door in partially closed position and with the cooperating elements of the check and retainer structure in checking contact;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the roller supporting structure, shOWlng the sheet metal construction of the parts and particularly the roller carrying bolt member;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a further modified embodiment of the keeper plate, to provide softer checking action for light weight door and frame constructions;

Fig. 6 is also a View similar to Fig. 1, and shows a still further embodiment of the keeper plate for soft checking action;

Fig. '7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6, and ona reduced scale, showing the door partially closed and wherein the spring backing the roller carrying bolt is in compressed condition as the roller has traveled up to the crest of the cam end portion of the deflected and rigidly backed spring keep-er arm retractingthe bolt. On further closing movement of the door thebolt will assume its normal extended position with the spring arm of the keeper then retaining the door in-closed position, as in Fig. 8; and I Fig. 8 is a fragmental horizontal sectional view showing the improved structure just referred to applied to a screen door within an outer door of a trailer, both doors being in closed positions.

Referring nowin detail to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, F designates a portion of a door frame and Ddesignates a portion of a door which is swingably supported within the frame in well known manner. The drawing shows only the free edge of thedoor and the cooperating portion of-theframe-which includes a door stop 7.

It is to be understood that the' door with which the improved structure-is. capableof use may-be a screen, storm, or any other form-of door and may be of the type yieldably urged to closed position or capable of being closed-by manual effort only. The invention is intended to provide both checking and retaining operations-with the minimum of equipment and effort, and on such-light door and frame structure as are now employed in trailer constructions.

The improved door check and retaining structure. comp-rises essentially two cooperating devices designated in their entiretiesas l6 and ll, one being secured to the free edge portions of the door frame and theother to thedoor. More specifically the device), comprises a one-piece thin sheet metal casing l2, having opposed end wall l3 and I4, side walls l5'and a top wall IS. The casing further includes base flanges I! provided with elongated slots I3 forreceiving screws l9 by which the casing is-secured to the frame F for ad ustment longitudinally thereof.

A combined bolt 20 and bifurcated roller supporting head 2 I is formed from a single piece of relatively thin sheet metal, the bolt 20 being formed tubular throughout most of its length and projects through a circular aperture 22 in'the casing. wall E3. The head end portion of this belt is formed. rectangular in cross section-as at 2i and extends. through a rectangular aperture 23, in the end wall 14.

A relatively heavy coil spring. 24'encircles the bolt 28 with one end thereof engaging end wall l3; The other end of this spring engages a shoulder Zliprovided at the juncture of the cylindrical portion of. the bolt 20 and its squared end ill-inwardly of the wall hi. A rubber roller 26 4 is journalled on a pin 21 extending through the arms of the bifurcated head 2|.

The striker plate or keeper device I l is formed from a single rectangular sheet of relatively thin spring steel which is adapted to provide an anchoring and supporting arm portion 28 at one end to be secured to the outer face of a door D adjacent the free edge thereof, as by screw 25. This device further includes a central portion 30 bent to extend outwardly from the portion 28, normal thereto and adjoining a further portion 3! in angular relation to portion 30. The portion 3i extends toward but beyond the outer face of the-door and away from the free edge thereof to adjoin a still further bent portion 32 which extends across the entire free edge of the door in angular relation thereto, as well as to the portion 3|. This latter portion 32 is shown in Fig. 1, as spaced a greater distance from the free edge of the door at its junction with portion 3lthan at its inner end where it normally engages thev inner corner edge of the door. At this point the portion 32 joins a short rearwardly bent free end'extension 33 engaging the inner face ofthe door-and engageable in a recess 33- in the. stop face 1; A cam portion is thus provided by the spring arm portions 3! and 32 having it crest at C.

It will also be seen from Fig. 1, that, these keeper plate portions 32, 3| and 32- are readily yieldableand in the closed position of the door with the bolt 2!! fully extended, only these portions of the keeper plate are under tension, retaining the door in tightly closed position. against the frame F.

Upon opening thedoor, however, the roller 26 will first ride inwardly'upon the portion 3| and since. this arm portion of the, keeper plate is more yieldable than the-coiled spring 24, the portion 3| will be depressed carrying with it the inclined portion 32 until itengages the rigid underlying surfaceof the door edge after which the roller" carrying bolt is forced rearwardly compressing the coiledspring 24 until the roller 26 rides over the crest of the cam surface C, after which the parts will rapidly assume the positions shown in Fig. 3-.

As indicated in full lines in Fig; 3 the door has been opened to such extent that the yieldable keeper plate has assumed its'normal position. As indicated in dot-and-dash lines in this view the roller is inside'the crest of the cam C. The portions 39, 3| and 32 have all yielded inwardly with portion 32 resting onthe free edge wallofthe door, as explained above.

It is to be observed at this point that the plate in Fig; 3' is slightly modified in the inclusion of a short portion spaced from and parallel with portionv 28 and which interconnects portions 30 and 1H and provides. the desired flexibility of these parts.

As will be seen in Fig. 1 the readily yieldable keeper plate acts to retain the door closed and as seen in Fig.3 the keeper plate also acts to cushion or check, the door in itsinitial closing movements- A modified form of keeper plate I l is shown in Fig, 5. Thisplate is also constructed from a thinsheet of resilient steel and is bent to provide a straight portion 35 adapted to be secured to the outer face of the door D by screws 36. The plate further includes a straight'portion 31 extending outwardly from portion 35 and nor mal thereto, a third straight portion 38 parallelv with portion 35 and a cam striker and retaining portion. This latter portion running to the free end of the spring strip includes an angular portion 39 extending from portion 33 toward the outer face of door D and away from the free edge thereof and another angular portion 40 extending inwardly from portion 39 across the free edge of the door. The portion 40 is normally spaced from the edge of the door except at its inner end where it engages the inner free edge corner of the door and terminates in a short rearward retaining extension 4| engaging the rear face of the door.

This form of keeper plate cooperates with the stronger coiled spring pressed bolt carrying roller 2 5, substantially in the same manner as the member ll above described. Hence, the portions 31, 39 and 40 provide a yieldable striker or keeper member wherein the portion 49 is forced against the free edge surface of the door upon initial movement of roller inwardly of the inclined cam portion 39. After this initial deflection of the keeper member the roller carrying bolt is caused to retract as it passes the crest of the cam C of the keeper, after which it then returns to normally extended position as the spring keeper arm comes into play to retain the door in closed position.

A further embodiment of keeper plate H" is shown in Figs. 6 and '7 wherein the spring plate includes a flat portion 42 secured and retained to the inner free edge corner surface of the door adjacent its inner wall, as by screws 43. Spring arm 44 extends outwardly from this retained portion 42, in angular relation to the free edge surface of the door, as in Fig. 6. This spring arm also includes an outer cam member having its crest at C and provided by angular portions 45 and 46. The cam C isnormally engaged by roller 26 in the same manner and for the same purpose above described. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, the roller 26 has deflected the spring keeper into engagement with the rigid edge surface of the door and has then rolled up to the crest C of the cam, compressing the coiled spring 24 of the roller carrying bolt.

The structure of Figs. 6 and 7 is shown in Fig. 8 as applied to constructions existing in trailers wherein a screen door SD. is disposed inwardly of an outer door OD. In this instance the frame F is provided with a seat 41 for the outer door and a weather strip 48 is disposed in the bottom of the seat outwardly of the portion 46 of the keeper plate.

The frame F is further provided with an inner screen door seat or stop f against which the screen door SD. is adapted to be yieldably yet positively held by the spring arm 44 of the keeper. As in the several forms previously described the stronger spring projected bolt carrying roller 26 is always fully extended when the associated door D or SD. is in closed position against the frame stop. Hence the inclined cam surface inwardly of the crest C on the spring arm of the keeper will constantly exert a closing pressure on the associated door, through the extended bolt and its mounting on the door.

I claim:

1. In a check and retaining device for a door swingably supported within a frame having a spring pressed roller, the improvement comprising a keeper plate adapted to be attached to a side of the door adjacent the free edge thereof and in its attached position including a plane door attaching portion, a second portion extending away from said plane portion at substantially right angles to the side of the door, a roller engageable retaining cam portion extending from. said second portion in inclined relation thereto toward said side of the door at said free edge thereof, and a roller engageable checking portion extending from the cam portion across the free edge of the door and having its free end inturned and terminating in engagement with the opposite side of the door.

2. In a check and retaining device for a door swingably supported within a frame having a spring pressed bolt, the improvement comprising a spring keeper plate adapted to be attached to a side of the door adjacent the free edge thereof and in its attached position including a plane door attaching portion, a second portion extending away from said plane portion at substantially right angles to the side of the door, a third portion extending from said second portion in substantial parallelism with said first portion, a roller engageable retaining cam portion extending from said third portion in inclined relation thereto toward said side of the door and outwardly of said free edge thereof, and a reversely inclined roller engageable check cam portion extending from the first cam portion across the free edge of the door and having its free end inturned and terminating in engagement with the opposite side of the door.

3. A check and retainer structure for a door member hingedly mounted in a frame member having a door stop, comprising cooperating elements mounted on the door and frame members,

one of said elements comprising a striker plate secured to one of said members and including a resilient door check arm normally extending in angular and spaced relation to an edge surface of said one member and in outwardly diverging relation thereto in a direction outwardly of the door and frame members, said striker plate further including a cam portion unitary with the arm and disposed outwardly of said one member and converging toward the plane of said edge surface, the other element comprising a bolt, a relatively heavy coil spring projecting said bolt into contact with said cam portion in a closed position of the door and said spring being of a strength to retain said bolt in its fully projected position against the reaction of said resilient arm and to flex same into engagement with said edge surface upon initial opening of the door, whereafter said cam portion has a relatively rigid support from said one member and reacts upon said bolt upon final opening of the door to retract the bolt and compress the spring.

HENRY M. FREDHOLM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 925,936 Moon June 22, 1909 985,185 Lee Feb. 28, 1911 1,335,100 Embach et al. Mar. 30, 1920 1,692,366 Bean Nov. 20, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 189,829 Great Britain Dec. 7, 1922 

